Face mask



Jan. 14, 1936.

F. G. MANSON 2,027,392

FACE MASK Filed June 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRANK G. Mn/vsmv. B 56% Jan. 14, 1936.

F. cs. MANSON FACE MASK Filed Jun 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR FRANK G. Mn/vsoN. BY V444.

M J M 11' 'ORNETS Patented Jan. 14, .1936

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FACE MASK Frank G. Manson, Dayton, Ohio Application June 2, 1932, Serial No. 614,985

1 Claims. (01. 128-141) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended Abril 30, 1928; 370 0. G- 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in face masks and more particularly to face protecting masks for aviators or the like which are adapted to. snugly fit the face of the wearer to protect the altitudes.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a mask of this character means for supplying gas to the wearer which is so constructed and arranged that the gases upon entering the mask are deflected laterally and distributed more generally throughout the entire mask. In so doing direct contact of the entering gases with the face of the wearer is substantially prevented, providing for greater comfort and ease in breathing to the wearer.

.A further object of the present invention is to provide in a mask of this character means for discharging the exhaled gases by the aid of one or more suitablydisposed tubes so positioned on the mask that a partial suction pressure will be effected adjacent the discharge ends thereof and amore rapid exhausting of the exhaled gases from the interior of the mask will therefore be eifected.

Heretofore in face masks of this general character considerable difficulty has been experienced in preventing the fogging of the goggles worn by the aviator by reason of the fact that the exhaled or other gases in exhausting through the eye openings of the face mask would be condensed on striking the relatively cold surfaces of .the lenses of the goggles and thus impair to a great extent the visibility afforded the wearer.

A further object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide in a mask of this character an arrangement whereby the exhaled gases are prevented from reaching and exhausting through the eye openings, which is accomplished by confining the exhaled gases in the area generally surrounding the discharge outlets of the mask. t

The present invention also has for an object the-providing of a face mask which shall be of warm and durable material and which shall con tribute to the maximum comfort of the wearer.

around the edges.

To this end the helmet is formed of pliable leather withan inner lining of warm soft material, such as chamois or the like, and of such snug fit as to prevent the entrance of cold air face while flying at high together by means of furrier These and other objects of the invention will be more apparent from, the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment .illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the mask;

Fi 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; t

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the modified mask shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of mask;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail viewof a dim further modiflcation showing :the arrangement of the outlet passages; and

Figs. '7 to 11 inclusive illustrate the various patterns employed in forming the mask.

Referring more particularly toJthe drawings, 20

wherein corresponding parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the various views thereof, the mask in the preferred embodiment of my invention herein illustrated comprisesgenerally a face body portion H), a nose portion 1 I, throat 25 portion l2 and chin portion 13, the edges of the respective portions being adapted to be sewed corresponding edges of each portion matchedto-.

gether in the manner designated in Figs. '7 to .10 0

inclusive by means of the reference letters A to H, thus forming a unitary structure. The face body portion- I0 is formed with spaced darts ll and l5 at its upper edge, as shown in Fig. '7,

which are adapted to. be stitched together and 35 thereafter reinforced -by suitable reinforcing strips 16, which may be sewed to the face portion It], as shown in Fig. 1. In a similar manner the adjacent edges of the face portion l0 and chin portion l3 and throat portion l2 are pro- 40 vided with reinforcing strips I1 and I8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Goggle openings 2| are also formed in the face body portion In. The face mask is laminated, that is, it is formed of an outer layer IQ of soft pliable leather and an inner 45 lining 20 of warm soft material such as chamois.

As will be noted by referring to Fig. 2, the nose portion H is providedwith apertures 22 and 23 respectively; within which are adapted to be received the air inlet tube 24 and exhaust tube 25 50 respectively. The exhaust tube 25 is of suflicient length to extend through an opening 26 provided in the lower portion 21 of the facebody portion. A cup-shaped disk 28 of resilient material, such as rubber or the like, is mounted at the inner end 55 stitches with the of said exhaust tube, which is adapted to conform to and closely contact with the lips of the wearer.

The inlet tube 24 is closed at its inner end, as shown at 29, and is provided with a laterally extending opening 30 for discharging oxygen into the nose portion of the mask. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 that the lower portion 21 of the face body portion forms a baiile for deflecting the incoming gases upwardly in the manner indicated by the arrows so that direct contact of the entering gases with the face of the wearer is substantially prevented. This arrangement also permits the entering gases to warm up to a certain extent before being inhaled. A flanged portion 3| is provided on the inner end of the inlet air tube 24 adapted to bear against the inner surface of the nose portion to retain the inlet tube properly positioned.

As will be noted by referring to Fig. 2, a padded roll of chamois 32 is disposed on the inside of the mask adapted for making intimate contact with that portion of the wearer's face generally surrounding the nose and mouth so that the entering gases are confined in the areas designated by letters A and B. In so doing the exhaled or entering gases are prevented from reaching and exhausting through the eye openings 2| and foggings of the goggles will therefore be substantially prevented.

In order to fasten the mask in position and maintain the same in close contact with the face, the sides of the face body portion are provided with a plurality of bands 33 of elastic material having the usual adjusting devices 34 for lengthening or shortening the bands. These bands also serve the purpose of maintaining the padded roll 32 in intimate contact with the face of the wearer to prevent leakage of air from areas A and B into the areas generally surrounding the eye openings. The portion 35 intermediate of the eye openings II is slit and is provided with a tab 36 having a female glove button fastener 31 secured at its free end adapted to cooperate with the male fastener 38 fastened on the upper face body portion. This arrangement permits the wearer to readily put on or remove his goggles without requiring removal of the face mask in so doing.

Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate a modification of the invention. illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance the eye openings 2| are provided with a padded section generally indicated by the numeral 39, which completely surrounds the eye opening, said section being so arranged as to make intimate contact with the face of the wearer about the eyes, as is indicated in Fig. 5. In so doing the exhaled or entering gases are prevented from reaching and exhausting through the eye openings to fog the goggles. The air inlet tube 24' in this modification is provided at its inner end with a plurality of flexible rubber disks 40 and 4| cemented together at their peripheral edges to form a chamber 42 for receiving gases. The disk 40, as will be noted by referring to Fig. 5, is provided with a plurality of openings 43, through which the entering gases are discharged laterally into the face mask.

In this modification the exhaust tubes 25' for exhausting the exhaled air from the interior of the mask are laterally disposed on the face body portion III of the mask. As will be noted by referring to Fig. 4, openings 44 are provided on the face poi tion of the mask adjacent the nose.

portion ll within which the inner ends of the exhaust tubes 25' are received, the outer portion of the exhaust tube being secured to the face body portion by means of retaining strips 45 of durable material such as leather. The outer ends of the exhaust tube 25' the peripheral edges of the face body portion as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. By means of this arrangement air currents flowing past the face of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 3, tend to forcibly withdraw the exhaled gases from the exhaust are extended substantially to conditions concurrent with the adoption of my mask will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of parts may be-resorted to when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a face mask a face" portion comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearer's face when in asand a separate mouth opening the surrounding I materials of which intimately contact the lips of the wearer, a nose piece secured at its peripheral edges to said face portion and spaced from and inclosing said openings to form a breathing cham-- her for the nose separate and apart from the interior of said fa portion, means in said nose portion for supplymg gases to said breathing chamber, means adjacent said first mentioned means forming a communicating passageway between said mouth opening and the atmosphere to permit exhalation of said gases, and baille means cooperating with said gas supply means for deflecting the entering gases away from the face and into said breathing chamber.

2. In a face mask a face portion comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearer's face when in assembled relation, said face portion including a nose opening shaped to snugly receive the nose and a separate mouth opening the surrounding ber for the nose separate and apart from the interior of the said face portion, a gas supply conduit having its inlet end'discharging into said breathing chamber, means adjacent said gas supply conduit forming a communicating passageway between said mouth opening and the atmosphere to permit exhalation of said gases and batlle means adjacent the inlet end of said gas supply conduit for deflecting the entering gases away from the face and into'said breathing chamber.

3. In a face mask a face portion having eye openings and comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearer's face when in assembled relation, said construction, proportion and arrangement of face portion including a nose opening shaped to 75 snugly receive the nose and a separate mouth opening the surrounding materials of which intimately contact the lips of the wearer, a nose piece secured at its peripheral edges to said face portion and spaced from and inclosing said openings to form a breathing chamber for the nose separate and apart from the interior of said face portion, means in said nose portion for supplying gases to said breathing chamber, means adjacent said first mentioned means forming a communicating passageway between said mouth opening and the atmosphere to permit exhalation of said gases, baille means cooperating with said gas supply means for deflecting the entering gases away from the face and into said breathing chamber and continuous yieldable face engaging means interposed between said eye openings and said breathing chamber for enclosing the nose and mouth of the wearer and preventing inhaled or exhaled gases from reaching the eye openings.

4. In a maska face portion having eye open- 'ings and comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearers face when in assembled relation, said face portion including a nose opening shaped to snugly receive the nose and a separate mouth opening the surrounding materials of which intimately contact the lips of the wearer, a nose piece secured at its peripheral edges to said face a portion and spaced from and inclosing said openings to form a breathing chamber for the nose separate and apart from the interior of said face portion, means in said nose portion for supplying gases to said breathing chamber, means adjacent said first mentioned means forming a communieating passageway between said mouth opening and the atmospherev topermit exhalation of said gases, baiiie means cbbperatingwith said gas supply, means for deflecting the entering gases away from theiface and into said breathing chamber, continuous yieldable face engaging means interposed betwen said openings and said breathin chamber for enclosing the nose and mouth of the wearer and preventing inhaled or exhaled gases from reaching the eye openings and elastic means secured to said face'portion for positively maintaining said last mentioned means in contiguous relation with the-face of the wearer throughout its entire length.

5. In a face mask a face portion having eye openings and comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearers face when in assembled relation, said face portion including a nose openingshaped to snugly receive the nose and-a separate mouthopening the surrounding materials of whichdntimately contact the lips of the wearer, a nose piece secured at its peripheral edges to said face portion an; spaced from and inclosing said openings to form a breathing chamber for the nose separate and apart from the interior of said face portion, means in said nose portion for supplying gases to said breathing chamber, means adjacent said first mentioned means forming a communie eating passageway between said mouth opening and the atmosphere to permit exhalation of said gases,'baflle means cooperating with said gas supply means for deflecting the entering gases away from the face and into said breathing chamber and a continuous face engaging inner padded marginal strip of flexible material secured at the junction of the nose piece and face portion of the mask for enclosing" the nose and mouth of the wearer and positively confining the entering and exhaled gases within the breathing chamber of said mask.

6. In a face mask a face portion comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearers face when in assembled relation, said face portion including a nose opening shaped to snugly receive the nose an a separate mouth opening the surrounding m terials of which intimately contact the lips of the wearer, a nose piece secured at its peripheral edges to said. face portion and spaced from and enclosing said openings to form a breathing chamber for the nose separate and apart from the interior of said face portion, a gas supply conduit in the lower end of said nose piece and adjacent said mouth opening, means adjacent said gas supply conduit forming a communicating passageway between said mouth opening and the atmosphere, the inner end of said gas supply conduit having an inlet opening in the side wall thereof through which the entering gases are discharged, the materials of the face section adjacent and surrounding the mouth opening forming a baflle for deflecting the entering gases away from the face and into said breathing chamber.

'L' In a face mask a face portion comprising a plurality of sections cut to snugly conform to and intimately contact the wearers face when in assembled relation, said face portion including a nose opening shaped to snugly receive the nose' and a separate mouth opening the surrounding materials of which intimately contact the lips of the wearer, a nose piece secured at its peripheral edges to said face portion and spaced from and enclosing said openings to form a breathing chamber separate and apart from the interior of said face portion, a gas supply conduit in the lower end of said nose piece and adjacent said mouth opening, the inner end of said gas supply conduit having an inlet opening in the side walls thereof through which the entering gases are discharged, the materials of the face section immediately adjacent and surrounding the mouth opening forming a baflie for deflecting the entering gas away from the face .and into said breathing chamber, and means for exhaling said gases comprising an outlet tube extending through the nose piece and mouth opening and forming a communicating passageway into the atmosphere the inner end of said tube'being disposed inward FRANK G. MANSON. 

